Lucknow: A pivotal technical workshop titled “Low-Carbon Building Pathway for Uttar Pradesh” was held at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning (FOAP), Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), Tagore Marg Campus, Lucknow. The workshop was part of the Asia Low-Carbon Building Transition (ALCBT) project, aiming to accelerate the adoption of sustainable, energy-efficient buildings in the state.
The initiative is being implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in collaboration with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and Greentree Global. It is supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German government and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), under the guidance of India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The ALCBT project is active in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Haryana.
Institutional Support and Stakeholders
Key government partners supporting this initiative in Uttar Pradesh include the Department of Housing and Urban Planning, UPNEDA, and the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DoEFCC). GGGI serves as the project’s lead implementing agency, EESL provides expertise in energy efficiency and financial modeling, while Greentree Global contributes as a technical partner.
The Need for Low-Carbon Buildings
India’s building sector accounts for nearly 40% of global energy consumption and GHG emissions, with 70% of its future building stock yet to be constructed by 2030. In Uttar Pradesh, rapid urbanization and its mixed climate are driving energy demand, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable construction practices and low-carbon building strategies.
Workshop Highlights and Key Speakers
The event opened with a welcome address by Dr. Ritu Gulati, Head of FOAP, followed by a contextual presentation by Soumya Prasad Garnayak, Country Representative, GGGI India, outlining the ALCBT project goals.
Girish Kumar, Senior Energy Advisor, UPNEDA, provided insights on Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) implementation, while Pawan Verma, Chief Engineer, PWD, spoke about low-carbon building materials and sustainable construction.
A keynote address on “The Role of the State” was delivered by Akhilesh Singh, Environmental Planning Specialist, Awas Bandhu, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Technical Sessions and Panel Discussion
Anurag Bajpai, Director, Greentree Global, presented an update on the project’s progress. This was followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring:
- Dr. Ritu Gulati (FOAP)
- Dr. Farheen Bano (FOAP)
- Ashok Bonam (GGGI)
- Girija Shankar (EESL)
- Sandeep Kumar Saraswat (IIA-UP)
During the workshop, two key publications were launched:
- “Report on Uttar Pradesh’s Building Sector”
- “Financial Options for Building Decarbonization”
Swati Bajpai, Project Coordinator – Uttar Pradesh (Greentree Global), and Navneet Sharma, Manager – Sustainability Services (Greentree Global), delivered the closing remarks.
Expected Outcomes
The workshop aims to foster long-term partnerships in the building sector, contribute to policy development, and establish a market ecosystem to promote low-carbon construction practices in Uttar Pradesh. The dialogue set a strong foundation for integrating sustainability into urban planning, ensuring energy resilience, and reducing the state’s carbon footprint.
